All Diets Work . . . But Not Always (Just Hear Me Out)

I think I was about twelve years old when I went on my first diet. I’d like to say that it worked forever and I adopted a new healthy lifestyle during my raging hormonal tween years, but lets be real, is that true for anyone? The reality is, I’ve had an on-again off-again relationship with dieting and fitness programs for the vast majority of my life, and I learned that every program I signed up for actually worked. Literally, every time I cut out carbs or counted calories I lost weight and felt a renewed sense of life and purpose. The problem was that every time I cut out carbs or counted calories I eventually cut carbs back in or became too busy to track calories. Inevitably, I would begin to gain weight and thereby lose my newfound confidence.

My theory is this: any time you begin a new health program or fitness routine, you are paying attention to what you are eating and how much you are moving. You are no longer mindlessly eating whatever comes your way, or whatever you have time to grab in between appointments. Instead, you plan, you prep, you pave the way towards your own success. You finally take the time to create a meal plan, go grocery shopping, avoid the chip and cookie aisle, and you are diligent in your plans.

You have become intentional. You are intentional with your nutrition, you are intentional with your physicality, and you are therefore intentional with your lifestyle. The hiccup with most people, myself included, is that we gradually become less intentional as time wears on. We lose focus, and we give ourself more allowances. We don’t make time to meal prep on Sunday, and we convince ourselves that “just this week” we’ll figure out how to grab-and-go in a healthy way. And we’ll be pretty good about it at first. We’ll grab a leftover apple and bag of carrots on our way to work, but then lunchtime will hit, our coworkers will be going out to eat, and we’ll decide that “just this once” we’ll join them. We’ll order a salad or fish or something off the “light” menu, but then we’ll realize someone is celebrating a birthday or a promotion, so we’ll order appetizers or dessert (or both!) for the table, and we’ll indulge in “just” a few bites . . . then “just” a few more. After work, we’ll have had a long day, and by the time we go to the market, get everything we need, come home, and cook, it’ll be way too late, and let’s be real, we’re exhausted. So “just this once” we’ll run through the drive-thru, and we’ll try to find the healthiest item on the menu. We’ll have every intention of ordering that salad or parfait at the drive-thru, but then we’ll smell the french fries and decide to order a small fry “just this once” to go with our chicken wrap {hey, it’s small!}. I could go on, but I think I’ve made my point. I’m not alone in this. I know I’m not. We play the “just this time” game until we’ve gained back every pound we lost plus a couple more. How do we possibly break this cycle?

Photo credit: Gretchen Rubin “Better than Before”

If you know me, then you know I am a HUGE Gretchen Rubin fan. I love that her books and podcasts emphasize the importance of knowing ourselves in order to find true happiness and contentment with our lives. Through learning more about myself, I discovered that I’m an obliger, a person who responds best with outside accountability. I’m an abstainer, I can’t just have one potato chip without it leading to an empty bag thirty minutes later. I’m a lark, I perform best when I’m well rested and wake up early. Upon learning these things, I discovered that I needed to find a program that gave the obliger in me some outside accountability and allowed me to be strict with my goals without being pressured by the 80-20 rule (probably the worst advice I’ve ever received as an abstainer). In the very least, I needed a program that offered these options. And I found it. I found the solution for me in a bag of nutrient dense powder and six little color-coded containers that come with an incredible support system of like minded friends willing to hold me accountable to the goals I’ve set for myself.

It might not be the program for you (sacrilege, I know!), but I can guarantee you this: there is something that works for you! I’m confident in this. I wouldn’t lie to you. The first step you need to take (and I’m serious about this) is to learn more about yourself. What makes you tick? What triggers your emotional eating? How are you best held accountable? What are your favorite types of fitness programs? How can you create a system to eat more healthfully?

Please take a few minutes and follow the links to Gretchen Rubin’s quizzes and articles above in order to help you get to know yourself better, and then comment below with your tendency and how knowing that helps you create a system of success for yourself! I absolutely LOVE hearing how others are finding ways to implement these systems in their daily lives, and I can’t wait to see yours!

Fuel your body. Feed your mind. Free your soul.

2 Comments

My pleasure! I’m glad I’m not the only morning person around! If you have any questions about 21DF feel free to let me know! I’m hosting an accountability group in February for 21 Day Fixers through Facebook, we’d love to have you join us! 😀 (the obliger in me loves accountability groups) 😀